Diabetes is implicated with poorer outcomes and more complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We aim to determine whether diabetes affects infection risk, functional outcomes, patient-reported outcome measures, and patient satisfaction in Asian patients after TKA.
Prospectively collected data for 905 patients who underwent unilateral TKA by a single surgeon from February 2004 to July 2014 were reviewed, of which 123 (13.6%) patients suffered from diabetes. At 2-year follow-up, the change in range of motion of the operated knee, body mass index, Knee Society Score, Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and Short Form-36 from baseline was compared between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. We also analyzed the length of hospitalization stay, infection risk, and patient satisfaction between the 2 groups.
Compared with nondiabetic patients, diabetic patients had significantly poorer preoperative OKS (37.6 on 8.3 to 35.8 .38.0, P = .02) and Short Form-36 Mental Component Score (48.3 Me11.2 to 51.7 1.10.7, P = .01). At 2-year follow-up, diabetes continued to be associated with poorer OKS of 21.2 018.4 and Knee Society Score Function score of 64.7 Fu20.9 compared to 19.1 0.6.2 (P = .02) and 71.8 0220.1 (P = .01) respectively in nondiabetic patients. Interestingly, the difference in mental well-being was no longer significant after TKA. A significantly larger proportion of diabetic patients (50%) had a reduction in body mass index after TKA compared to 36% in nondiabetic patients (P < .01). There was no difference in range of motion, length of hospitalization stay, infection risk, and patient satisfaction.
Despite poorer physical scores throughout, diabetic patients are no less satisfied and had significantly greater improvement in mental well-being and weight reduction after surgery.